Eels topple Sea Eagles

The Parramatta Eels have continued their recent good form with a tight 19-12 win over the Manly Sea Eagles in a physical encounter at a wet Brookvale Oval in front of over 11,000 brave fans.

Fullback Jarryd Hayne provided the spark in attack and a tenacious second half defensive effort held the Sea Eagles scoreless after the game was locked at 12-all at halftime.

However, Eels' fans and New South Wales supporters will be following the fitness of Timana Tahu who, after being named in the centres for the Blues, limped off the field at the end of the game.

Hayne's ball playing skills set up Parramatta's first two tries. The first came off a pinpoint cut out pass to winger Luke Burt, while the second thanks to a nicely timed short ball to the evasive Feleti Mateo.

But Manly hit back in the 31st minute when Steve Matai crossed before a clever dummy and run from captain, and NSW five-eighth, Jamie Lyon evened the scores up at 12-all at the break.

The second half started in a physical fashion with a number of big hits from both sides. The Eels were then denied a stunning length of the field try when it was ruled debutant Tom Humble's foot touched the line - a blade of grass proved the difference.

Parramatta scored what would be the match winning try in the 63rd minute - Burt made a break before grubber kicking back towards the posts for hooker Jeff Robson to score untouched.

A late field goal to Burt streched the winning margin to seven points. Manly centre Matai will probably face a trip to the judiciary after two high shots.

Match Details
Manly Sea Eagles 12 were defeated by Parramatta Eels 19
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 10 - Monday May 17, 2010 7:00pm
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Referee: Jared Maxwell and Matt Cecchin
Video Referee: Steve Clark
Touch Judges: Paul Holland and Steve Chiddy
Crowd: 11,023
Halftime: Manly Sea Eagles 12 Parramatta Eels 12

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Jarryd Hayne
2 Points - Nathan Hindmarsh
1 Point - Luke Burt (1 Try, 3 Conversions, 1 Field Goal)

Manly Sea Eagles (12)
Tries: Steve Matai, Jamie Lyon
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (2/2)

Parramatta Eels (19)
Tries: Luke Burt, Feleti Mateo, Jeff Robson
Field Goals: Luke Burt (1/1), Jarryd Hayne (0/1)
Conversions: Luke Burt (3/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to this evening's coverage of the clash between traditional rivals Manly Sea Eagles and Parramatta Eels from Brookvale Oval. The Eels have hit some good form over the past few weeks but Manly are always tough to beat at home and have one of the toughest packs in the competition.

Manly claimed the U20s 24-18.

Changes for both teams..
Manly: Kieran Foran is out with injury, Chris Bailey is his replacement. Jamie Buhrer comes on to the interchange.
Parramatta: Tom Humble on debut in jersey 18 is five-eighth at the expense of Kris Keating.
Of course, the NSW State of Origin seventeen for Game One will be announced at halftime. As soon as the team is named, it will be posted here and also on the LeagueUnlimited main page. So stay tuned!
Wet conditions tonight, it could be a bit of a grinding match. Kick off in about five minutes.
1 min: We're underway! Manly receive the ball.
2 min: Parramatta charge down Chris Bailey's kick and get the ball back on halfway.
3 min: TRY
Parramatta get repeat sets on the Sea Eagles' line, Jarryd Hayne goes down the short side and throws a perfect cut out pass for Luke Burt to dive over out wide. Burt converts.
Parramatta Eels 6-0
6 min: Mateo throws an offload to a flying Timana Tahu, who is eventually tackled but he plays the ball in the wrong direction and is penalised.
8 min: So much for my prediction of a dour game, the rain has cleared and both teams are throwing it around.
9 min: Video referee - possible Manly try..
9 min: No try! In leaping for a bomb Jamie Lyon is ruled to have knocked on, very difficult to tell whether he actually touched the ball though.
13 min: Manly make a break down the flank thanks to Williams, the ball is turned back towards the posts and Hindmarsh makes a try saving tackle in cover.
14 min: A high shot on new boy Tom Humble by Steve Matai - welcome to first grade.
17 min: Trent Hodkinson kicks high on the last for the third time tonight, Hayne allows it to bounce but cleans up the loose ball.
19 min: Dan Mortimer grubbers on halfway but it's a poor kick and it goes straight to Williams.
22 min: Matt Ballin falls asleep at dummy half and comes up with an error which is compounded by a penalty.
23 min: TRY
The Eels are in again off another Hayne pass! The fullback with a short ball this time for Feleti Mateo, who has too much strength and footwork close to the line. Burt converts.
Parramatta Eels 12-0
26 min: Mateo pokes his nose through the line and gets a ball out to Tahu, who finds Burt but the pass is correctly called forward.
29 min: Jarryd Hayne puts in a massive 60 metre torpedo punt - now he's just showing off..
29 min: Some solid defence from Manly, Inu runs too close to the sideline on kick return and is pushed out.
31 min: Video referee - possible Manly try..
31 min: TRY
Manly run the ball on the last tackle and some find space on the fringes. Steve Matai takes full advantage to score. Lyon converts.
Parramatta Eels 12-6
31 min: Just a reminder to stay tuned to LeagueUnlimited for the NSW State of Origin team announcement at halftime.
34 min: The Manly crowd protest for a penalty and the referee obliges - the kick for touch puts them into Parrmatta's half.
35 min: Krisnan Inu intercepts on the Eels' line and offloads to Humble, who knocks on. Manly keep the pressure on.
37 min: TRY
Manly captain Jamie Lyon dummies and takes on the line to cross for a four-pointer, great solo effort. Lyon converts his own try to level things up.
12 all
39 min: The home team have done well to claw themselves back into this one.
40 min: Joel Reddy makes an error as Parramatta throw it around just before the break.
Halftime: Parramatta came out all guns blazing but Manly, in typical fashion, have worked themselves back into the contest with two tries to have things level at 12-all at the break.
The NSW Origin team announcement is only moments away..
1 min: New South Wales team for Game I, 2010
1. Gidley (c) 2. Hayne 3. Tahu 4. Cooper 5. B. Morris 6. Lyon 7. Kimmorley 8. Weyman 9. Ennis 10. Perry 11. Waterhouse 12. Creagh 13. Watmough
Interchange: 14. Lewis 15. White 16. Learoyd-Lahrs 17. Idris
41 min: Manly kick off in the second half.
42 min: Anthony Watmough loses the ball on his own 40 metre line.
43 min: Another high shot from Steve Matai, this time on fullback Jarryd Hayne. That's two tackles tonight from Matai - he'll be in trouble later in the week.
45 min: Try saving tackle in the previous set by Robertson on Reddy but Manly are under more pressure thanks to a Glenn Stewart error.
47 min: It's starting to get physical and there's a bit of niggle as well.
49 min: Video referee - possible length of the field Eels try..
49 min: No try! Quite possibly the most stunning no try ever. Krisnan Inu takes an intercept and is run down by Matai but somehow flicks up a pass for Humble in support. The debutant is ruled to have been taken into touch by a flying Jamie Lyon around the legs in cover defence.
54 min: Hayne bombs high, no one contests the ball but on the second bounce it is batted into touch by the Eels.
58 min: Parramatta get six again on the Manly line.
59 min: Some tenacious defence from Manly holds out the Eels for two sets in a row.
60 min: A Sea Eagles kick rebounds off an Eel and into the arms of Robertson who streaks away downfield.
63 min: Video referee - checking onside for a possible Eels try..
63 min: TRY
Luke Burt makes a break down the left side, the cover defence converges but Burt steps back and puts in a grubber towards the posts for Jeff Robson, who only has to dive on the ball. Burt converts.
Parramatta Eels 18-12
68 min: More big hits from both sides, as Parramatta struggle to get the ball out of their own end.
69 min: Steve Matai picks up a loose ball and looks set for a try but Jarryd Hayne pulls him down a few metres short.
71 min: Trent Hodkinson finds touch to give his team a breather but they're starting to run out of time.
73 min: Luke Burt drops a easy pass, giving the Sea Eagles some field position.
75 min: Jason King tries to offload but it was never on and he knocks on.
76 min: FIELD GOAL
Luke Burt positions himself behind the play and slots the field goal under no pressure.
Parramatta Eels 19-12
79 min: The Sea Eagles get a penalty to help them out but it's all too late.
80 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT Media Mantarays
Jarryd Hayne attempts a field goal from 50 metres out but it doesn't quite have the legs.
Parramatta Eels 19-12
Fulltime: A herculean effort has seen Parramatta topple Manly at home - fullback Jarryd Hayne was the spark in attack for the Eels.